Pat Rabbitte (58)announced his resignation today as leader of the Labour Party having served in the job for almost five years.
He took over the running of the party from Ruairí Quinn in October 2002 and in doing so became the first leader of the three main parties to be elected by its ordinary members.
Born into a small family in Ballindine near Claremorris, Co Mayo in May 1949, he spent his primary school days in Cullane National School, before moving onto St Colman's College, Claremorris and later University College Galway.
He graduated from University College Galway with a degree in English literature and politics, and a stint as the college's student leader.
He served as president of the fledgling Union of Students in Ireland and got nearly every college campus to affiliate.
By 1974, Mr Rabbitte was national secretary of the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, and a member of the Labour Party. However, he left the party in 1976 because of its alliance with Fine Gael.
Mr Rabbitte then joined Sinn Féin the Workers' Party, winning a seat on Dublin County Council in the local elections of 1985, before finally reaching the Dáil in the 1989 general election.
The party changed its name on many occasions before eventually becoming the Democratic Left and entering the Rainbow government.
During this administration Mr Rabbitte served Minister of State to the Government 1994-1997 and Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In 1999 the Democratic Left re-merged with Labour.
As Labour leader Mr Rabbitte presented a joint Fine Gael and Labour platform to the electorate as an alternative government in the latest election.
However, the party was returned to the Dáil with 20 seats, one less than in the previous election.
Following the May election result, Mr Rabbitte said he would be staying on as leader of the party but accepted it needed to modernise and realise that people's attitudes had changed.
Mr Rabbitte is currently a sitting TD for Dublin South West.